Jagr Won't Ask For Trade At Deadline

Sounds like what everyone was saying about the LA Kings two seasons ago when they sneaked into the playoffs during the last week of the season, while the East (and Atlantic Division, specifically) was considered the way more superior Conference.

The Kings were also a talented, underachieving team in the regular season. People keep referring to them like they were a quick exit 8th seed, but they were a top 4 team in disguise.

This Devils team, should they make the playoffs, is not the 2012 Kings unless Lamoriello goes out and acquires some skill and a little more speed up front.

Sounds like what everyone was saying about the LA Kings two seasons ago when they sneaked into the playoffs during the last week of the season, while the East (and Atlantic Division, specifically) was considered the way more superior Conference.

Not agreeing here, the kings were a 100 pt teams years before that playing in the tougher/stronger western Conf. they had talent but underachieved . its not like the metro now, you don't sneak into the western playoffs. the devils have to play near playoff hockey now to win consistently , love their effort and I think they can get in, but the thought of them beating a top western team late in the playoffs, in a 7 games series is close to a fairytale.

The Kings were also a talented, underachieving team in the regular season. People keep referring to them like they were a quick exit 8th seed, but they were a top 4 team in disguise.

That's debatable. People were down on the Kings for most of the season, right up until March; their own fans, bloggers and writers included. The addition of Mike Richards and eventually Jeff Carter was not something that everyone in the league was thinking was a success right away. They were straddling the .500 mark for most of the season until March of that year when they suddenly heated up. Throughout January or February, they could barely score goals, and that's fact.

It's easy in hindsight to call them a powerhouse team, because we know now that they'd go on to sweep two rounds and win the other two rounds handily, but they were not on anyone's radar before round 1.

That's debatable. People were down on the Kings for most of the season, right up until March; their own fans, bloggers and writers included. The addition of Mike Richards and eventually Jeff Carter was not something that everyone in the league was thinking was a success right away. They were straddling the .500 mark for most of the season until March of that year when they suddenly heated up. Throughout January or February, they could barely score goals, and that's fact.

It's easy in hindsight to call them a powerhouse team, because we know now that they'd go on to sweep two rounds and win the other two rounds handily, but they were not on anyone's radar before round 1.

This is not true - stat people were yelling about the Kings once they clinched the playoffs, saying they were an excellent team getting some bad shooting luck, and that they were among the best teams in the West, if not the best. It is funny that with hindsight that some people can say the Kings were a great team.

This is not true - stat people were yelling about the Kings once they clinched the playoffs, saying they were an excellent team getting some bad shooting luck, and that they were among the best teams in the West, if not the best. It is funny that with hindsight that some people can say the Kings were a great team.

Not sure what you're disagreeing with, seems like we're saying similar things? Kings weren't this chemistry-filled magical powerhouse team getting consistent wins until the trade deadline, March/April, etc. right up to heading into the playoffs.

Edit: Yeah, I just reread my last comment that you replied to, it was a bit conflicting; I didn't mean to say they weren't on anyone's radar until round 1, but they weren't on the radar until March.

This Devils team, should they make the playoffs, is not the 2012 Kings unless Lamoriello goes out and acquires some skill and a little more speed up front.

We're agreeing then, because the right trade at the right time was what the Kings needed to do to galvanize their roster for a playoff run. I'm not saying Carter's the absolute highest end talent, but it was a smart trade that worked for them at the right time. I don't think we're too far off as a team from needing one or two more offensive pieces to be a good team. I've liked the way our team is playing for a while now, and we've had a ton of close games decided by a shootout or a crossbar or three.

Not agreeing here, the kings were a 100 pt teams years before that playing in the tougher/stronger western Conf. they had talent but underachieved . its not like the metro now, you don't sneak into the western playoffs.

On a long enough timeline, so too were the Devils, point totals during regular season are really irrelevant (as we saw firsthand getting 100+ points every year and getting knocked out first round). And let's not kid ourselves, the "Metro" anomaly is new territory for us this year. Atlantic Division was one of the toughest Divisions in the league for at least a few years. THIS season is the exception, not the rule. You're giving the Kings way too much credit, they were not some mega powerhouse until their run from March until June in 2012. It's easy to say now in hindsight that "we're not the 2012 Kings"... But in reality, the comparison is more than relevant.